Hello All!
Yes, I know it has been a while since I have posted. I have kept most of you updated on my life here in the Hunan Province via other forms of communication, but I have decided to make it my Chinese New Years resolutions to update my blog more frequently! I can use Chinese New Years as my excuse for starting in February since CNY isn't until Feb 19th this year.
Anyway picking up where I left off in the beginning of December. First off, I would like to say that I am throughly enjoying this years winter. It has been about a steady 45-50 degrees. The only problems is the lack of central heating so it often tends to be warmer outside my apartment then inside of it.
Teaching so far as been a very interesting experience. I am fortunate to have my students twice a week since they are at a slightly lower english level. They certainly never make life dull for me. They are constantly teaching me new things, while I am teaching them English and about Western Culture. I really got to know my students during the exams. As part of my teaching we do not have monthly tests or homework assignments, it is simply about teaching the students english and encouraging them to speak and become more confident. However, we do need to give them exams at the end of the semester. For my exams I required each of my students to speak for 1 minute about a topic we discussed in class. This sounds like an easy task, but to those of you who have learned a new language speaking in front of someone is scary no matter how good you can read or write, speaking is a whole new ball game. During the 3.5 weeks(yea, it takes that long to test 600 students) I got to know students in a whole new light. Someone of them where constantly asking me questions and practicing with me, and while others who are silent during class blew me away with how much english they knew! (Yes, those kids will be talking much more in class this next semester.
As for the teachers at my school, they still blow me away with their kindness, willingness to help me out from right notes in chinese to helping me practice my chinese. (Which is still really bad, but I am getting better...slowly but surely) I have also shared a lot of my American culture with them as well. We celebrated Christmas together, I have been making apple crisp in my crock pot which they love! I have also been introducing them to some new phrases and lots and lots of country music!
So as you know I was away from my family at Christmas for the first time. Needless to say it is was a difficult week, but thank goodness for technology and I was able to talk with them alot!! I also got a couple of Christmas presents in the mail! Shout out to my awesome Aunt Laurie, Uncle Bob and my cousins Cassie and Jenna, Kelly, Kelsie and Jon! Love getting American coffee in the mail!! I spent Christmas with the other foreign teachers in Zhuzhou and had a lovely feast of Christmas Delights!
As for time off and traveling I have been able to do some weekend trips. Over New Years (western), I went to Guangzhou in the Guangdong Province south of Hunan for 4 days! It was an awesome trip, on which I ate so much western food, I also got to eat some delicious Indian food as well! The trip was awesome except for the over night train ride back that returned at 6:30 in the morning and had me running to school to reach 6 classes that day on a Sunday no less. Needless to say I was exhausted, but I had my students energy to help me rally!
The Chinese school year ends its first semester at the end of January and the students then I have about a month off for Spring festival! The months change every year depending on when the New Years lands. It is determined by the lunar calendar.
Since we have a month off, I am taking advantage of this opportunity to do a lot of traveling! So far I spent 4 days in Beijing which is a beautiful city! The Great Wall was definitely not a disappointment! Now after I sign off I am headed on a plane bound for Vietnam! I will spend 11 days there in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Mihn City! After that I will spend 10 days in Thailand!!
I will update during my trip if not right after!!
Peace out!!
Anna
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